Reinforced flexible tubing



UNiTED STATES-PATENT ortica.

BENJAMIN n. nosa, or :.Axnwocn, cmo.

BEINFORCED FLEXIBLE TUBING.

Speciiicaton'of Letters Patent. Ptntg Mar, 15, 1921.

.application .and sepuimber ze; 191e. serial ifo. 327,013.1.

To all lwhom t may concem: v

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN H. Rosa, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lakewood .in the county of Cuyahoga and State of hic, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Reinforced.

Flexible Tubing, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact d'escription.

The primaryobject of this invention is to make it practical and economical to use ilexible metallic tubing to convey pressure fluid from oneI to the other of two chambers which, in use, ymust be .frequently moved relatively to one another.

Another object of the invention is to render it ractical'and economical to use flexible metallic tubing for the puiposeof making af steam connectlon between the steam platesl any localized bending thereof as the parts with which they are connected are moved relativel ,-all'of which is hereinafter fully describe and pointed out definitely in the ap ended claims.v y

n" the drawing, Figure lis an elevation `of the present invention in the-form best adapted for connecting the'two .steam plates of a vulcanizing press; Fig. 2 is a plan view i of a part of one of said plates and the adj-a-V cent end of a reinforced flexible tube connected therewith; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one end of the reinforced flexible tube and the coupling attached to the end'of said tube' Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of ig. 3*; Fig. 5 is a sectional view in the plane of line 5-5 on Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of one end of )a flexible tube to which the present invention, in its simplest form is applied. Fig. 7 is a front elevation 4in detail of the col ar sup; porting member.

Referring to the parts by reference characters 10 represents a iexible/tube, preferably a tube made `of spirally corrugated metal.

A coupling 20 is secured to each end of this tube. The couplings. shown are of known form. 'Each embraces an endof the tube; and there is a packed' joint between the tube and coupling, of such-character as will prevent the escape of pressure fluid between them: The purpose cf the couplings islto provide means for attachingand detaching` I ythe flexible tube to the parts between which the pressure fluid is tobe conveyed through said iexible tube. As before stated, 'the couplings yshown are of known formand theineans whichthey embody for making the packed joint around the hose is also known. Any other forni of couplin and packing may be used. `In fact, a flexible metal tube .having theparticular couplings shown, attached to its ends, by precisely the means shown for that purpose, have lon been known. When, however, such a tube is used,

connected at its ends with two relatively movable parts, the tube will be bent every time there is a movement of one'coupling vrelative to the'other; and thisbending almost inevitably takes place close' to the coupling whereby the tubes crack and bend close to the coupling. Not all of the bending'takes place close tothe coupling, of course, but such 'additional bending as takes place is very apt to bec-ome localized and to be greater in one place than in another; namely, at some weak lace in the tube. When this action takes p ace the tube is apt to crack and lbreak at this place of local bending.

The chief object of the present invention is to prevent localizing ofy the bending of theF tube; and to e'ect this result, flexible reinforcing means are provided for each tube.

In its best and most lcomplete form the means consists of a flat spring bar 25, which extends from one end coupling to theother, and at its ends is supported to said coupling. This spring is disposed preferably below the tube; and is in supporting relation thereto from end to end.A In the particular construction shown there is an annular recess 22 between the inner end of the coupling and the tube whichA 1s secured in said coupling. These annularl recesses are utilized, in the construction shown, for making the necesi sary connection between the ends of the spring bar and the couplings. To effect this result the ends of the spring are crowded into the annular recesses 22 in the two ecuplin s; and the ends of the spring are fashione so as to iit so tightly in said recess that it is not liable tobe displaced but so that,

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nevertheless, the spring may at one end or the other (preferably both) slide endw'ise in this coupling as the spring and tube are bent 1n use,

A short flat'spring bar 26 is shown associated with each coupling. It is parallel with the spring ba'r 25 and is placed diametrically opposite it; and one of lits ends is crowded into the same recess 22 between the tube and coupling. One or more collars 27embraces the tube and these two springs; each collar being secured to the springs,

- that 'substantially' all of the bending of the tube, as the two couplings are moved relatively, will take place between the adjacent ends of the two short springs 26 associated respectively with the twocouplings. The long spring 25 will also support the tube throughout its length, and practically compel the tube to bend as the spring bends; that is to say, it will prevent any excessive local bending of the tube at a weak point therein. 'Y l While the long spring 25, and thejtwo shorts rings 26 make the best reinforcement', for the Hexible 1 tubes, nevertheless good results will be secured by'. using a single shortspring supported by each coupiing and connected by one or more collars withv the. tube, substantially as shown in Fig. 6. When this construction is employed the short spring should preferably be disposed beneath the tube so as to support the weight thereof close to the 'coupling So also will good results be secured if both'the short springs 26 be omitted and a single long spring be used. .The long sprin will in a large degree prevent localize bending of the tube adjacent the coupling,

and also throughout the length of the tube. l

As an economical substitute for the commonl used swing joint pipes for connecting 'togeter the plates tO, 41, of a h ot plate vulcanizing press two tubes reinforced as stated may be employed. Each is provided with couplin s 15, and each is combined with reinforcing springs as described. 1n

that event a'return bending pipe 35 may be employed between the ends/of the two rein forced tubes. A coupling on each tube is used to connect it with this return bend pipe. in fact, these couplings may be integral parts of this return bend pipe. The best construction, however, is that which is shown,w because it permits the two reinforced tubes to vbe easily' and quickly connected with and discoirnectedv from the re turn bend pipe. .'ttempt'sh'ave heretofore been made touse a single length of flexible nemesi tubing, bent into U-form, for making thel connection between the two hot plates mentioned; butthis has not been practically successful, because of the frequent bending which necessarily takes place in the loop connecting the two legs thereof. And it is also objectionable because, since such a U- shaped tube has no support except at its ends, the entire U-shaped structure will sag down'so that the lower leg thereof will come to form a depending pocket in which steam will condense, and thereby 4form a steam trap which interferes with the passage of steam through the tube from one hot plate to the other with the construction shown in F ig.1, such a sagging down of the tubes as will permit the formation of' a trap or pocket in its lower leg is not possible. Additionally, localized bending of the flexible tubing is practically prevented, because ns the plates move toward and away from each other the tubes bend in substantial conformity with the bending of the reinforcing sprlngs.

vWhen two springs 25, 26, are used adjacent each coupling, it is necessary that the connection between the collars and one or the other of the springs be slotted because, as the spring and the flexible -tube bend,- even though they bend only a little,-the points of `connection between each collar and the two springs will have a relative movement, as shown in Fig. 7 One of the holes 27a in each collar through kwhich an attaching screw passes may be an elongated slot.

Although several modifications of the preferred construction have been referred to, other modifications are obviously possible. it is the intention that the appended claims shall include all constructions which embody the stated elements or any equivalents thereof.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. The combination of a exible tube, a

coupling Secured to each end thereof, a

flexible metal bar which extends from one coupling to the other insupporting relation to the iiexible tube and which at its ends engages and is vsupported bythecouplings, one of said ends having a sliding connection with` the associated coupling.

2. The combination of a flexible tube, a coupling secured to each end thereof, and

aspring bar which extends from one coupllngto the other in supportin relation with the tube and whichat its en s engages and is supported by the couplings, one of said ends havinga sliding connection with the associated coupling'.

3. The combination with a :liexible tube, a coupling securedl to each end thereof, and a spring bar which extends from one coupling to the .other in supporting relation with the tube and which at its ends engages and is Cfi fue?

supported by the couplings, two collars which respectively embrace the tube adjacent the two couplings and are secured to said spring bar.

fl. 'lhe combination oi a flexible tube, a coupling secured to each end thereon and a spring bar which extends from one coupling to the other in supporting relation with the tube and which at its ends engages and is supported by the couplings, two short spring barswhich are respectively secured tosaid couplings and are parallel with the long spring bar and are on the opposite side ot the tube therefrom, and collars which embrace the tube and are connectedwwith said springs.

5. rlhe combination or two flexible tubes, a return bend pipe to which an end of each tube is connected, a coupling secured to the tree end of each tube, and, associated with each tube, a ilat spring bar which engages and is supported adjacent its ends by said return bend pipe and coupling and has a sliding engagement with one of them.

6. The combination of two fie-:ri7 -o tubes, a return bend pipe to which an end of each tube is connected, a coupling secure` to th free end or" each tube, and, associated wit each tube, a spring bar which engage is supported adiacent its ends by said return bend pipe and coupling and has a sliding engagement with one ot them, and collars which embrace the tube near its ends and are connected with said spring baro 7. The combination of two exible tubes, a return bend pipe to 'which an end of 'each tube is connected, a coupling secured to the free end of each tube, and, associated with each tube, a spring bar which engages and is supported adjacent its ends by Said return bend pipe and coupling and has a sliding engagement with one of them, two short spring bars disposed in parallel relation to the associated long spring bar and on the opposite side ot the tube thereof, one of said short spring bars being connected with the return `bend pipe and one to the coupling on the free end ot said tube.

8. The combination of two ilexible tubes arranged one over the other, the lower tube being the longer, an inflexible return bend pipe to which one end ot each denible tube is secured, couplings applied to the other ends of said two flexible tubes, a enible metal bar arranged in supporting relation to each flexible tube, each bar being connected at one end to said return bend pipe and at the other end to a coupling, one of the connections between each bar and the means which support its ends being a sliding connection.

9; 'lhe combination of two iiexible tubes, a return bend pipe to which an end ot each flexible tube is connected, two members, one of which is movable vertically toward and from the other, couplings secured to the free ends or" bott ilegible tubes for connecting them respectively to said two members, a spring bar arranged in supporting` relation to the iowe one of said two flexible tubes and opera Vely connected at its ends with said return bend pipe and with the lower one ot said two members, thereby preventing such sagging of the lower iienible tube between its supported ends as will form trap or pocket therein.

1Q, Flhe combination of two flexible tubes, a coupling secured to each end ot both tubes, means supported said couplings to prevent localized bending of the tubes near the couplings and to prevent such bending ci: the tubes l etween the couplings as will form a trap cr poclret, and a return bend pipe to the ends of which a coupling on eachtube is removably connected.

il. The combination or a flexible tube, a coupling secured to each end thereof, a flexible metal bar which extends from one couplinslr to the other in supporting relation the Flexible tube and which at its ends engages and is supported by the coupling,- one of said ends having a sliding connection with the associated coupling, and a collar which embraces the tube and is secured to the flexible metal bar.

ln testimony whereof, l hereunto aliix my signature.

BENJAll/llbl lll. RSE, 

